Can Tho posts strong growth

CAN THO (VNS) — The southern city of Can Tho posted the highest economic growth rate among centrally-run cities in the first half of this year.

Director of the municipal Statistics Department Le Ngoc Bay said the city's growth was estimated at about 9.2 per cent, up 8.26 per cent annually, as compared to the national rate of 6.28 per cent, Ha Noi's 7.8 per cent, Hai Phong's 9.12 per cent, and Da Nang's 8.15 per cent, as well as HCM City's 8.55 per cent.

During the period, Can Tho also attracted nine new projects worth US$29 million to its processing and industrial zones.

The city's total goods sales and services value topped VND76.35 trillion ($3.63 billion), marking a yearly rise of 14 per cent, more than VND42.2 trillion ($2 billion) of which was from the retail and service sectors.

Export earnings from farm produce, garment and handicrafts were also growing, ranging from 11.5 to 25 per cent.

On the tourism front, the city welcomed about one million visitors, including more than 103,500 foreigners, and raked in VND970 billion ($46.1 million), up 85 per cent.

It contributed more than VND8.8 trillion ($419 million) to the State budget, up 50 per cent from the same period last year. — VNS